I can't deny it, I love champagne. It's just one of those things, like painted nails, Marc Jacobs handbags, and vanilla cupcakes, that I wholeheartedly love. I find myself inventing reasons to pop open a bottle of bubbly and my desire to know more about champagne extends beyond the usual mmm-this-tastes-yummy interest.

I've decided that champagne, or any sparkling wine really, is a drink of glamorous sophistication and simplistic elegance and should be treated as such. Basically in order for me to truly appreciate champagne, I need to fully understand it. For my lesson on sparklers, read more

A quintessential side dish, especially during this time of year, good old mashed potatoes are the inevitable go-to side for anything roasted.

How come mashed potatoes are so popular? Perhaps it's because they're a comforting reminder of Thanksgiving, their baby food like consistency, or possibly because virtually any flavor can enhance their taste and texture. Whatever the reason, mashed potatoes are a great side for any upcoming roast dinner you may be planning. For a variation that includes buttermilk and the subtle onion flavoring found in leeks and chives, read more

A good dinner is of great importance to good talk. One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.